Rocklobster's Youtube Piano Session

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:19 am

Now that I have wi-fi, I'm going to start posting videos of myself playing the piano. Now, I want you folks to know--I have been playing the piano since I was four. My mother taught me everything I know. I'm having to learn as I go, so I apologize if the video quality isn't the best.
Here's my first video!
Aeris's Theme
I posted this on Facebook, but I thought, why not share them here as well?

Postby **alma** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 8:16 am

Very Nice. Thanks for sharing it

Postby **sarahjoy78** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:57 am

Aw Rocky! That was beautiful!!!! I wish I knew how to play the piano!!! That was GREEEAATTTT!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:32 am

Here's some I played yesterday.

The Willow (an original piece of music composed by Anita Weedmark)
Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
Amazing Grace

Postby **Vilo159** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 2:41 pm

These are really great, rock! I especially like The Willow. Thanks for sharing!

Postby **SierraLea** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:32 pm

Nice finger work!

Postby **Davidizer13** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:25 pm

One piano player to another, you gotta work on your flow between notes. You do a lot of hesitating between each one - it could be just a lack of practice thing, but it still really breaks up the flow of the song when you have spend a couple seconds setting yourself up to hit the next key. This is really apparent in The Willow, which sounds like it should be a song that just constantly moves from one phrase to the next, and since it isn't...yeah. I also don't hear you using any pedal (with 30 years of experience? Really?), and doing that could help your flow a little.

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:34 pm

Some of the pauses are also me turning pages or adjusting the camera/music.

Postby **Davidizer13** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:28 pm

But you're not just stopping occasionally, you're doing it all through the piece, like you have to stop and figure out where your hands are going next, and the way your eyes keep going down to your hands, you probably are. Plus, what are you doing with your pinkies? It hardly looks like you're using them at all; when you play piano, you need all your fingers in action.

I still can't believe you've gone 30 years playing piano and still don't know how to use the pedal.

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:21 am

I actually have been using the pedals on some of the next pieces. My feeling is that I should only use them for pieces that call for it. Also, I still haven't gotten the knack of performing for an audience. Oh, and my ipod's sound quality might be a factor too. Anyway, here's the new links:
"Mad World" (Gary Jules version)
"Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee"
"You Got a Friend in Me"
"Lotus Blossom"*(pedals were used here, Davidizer)
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6uPZyJHxcU]"Superman (It's Not Easy)"
"Adrift"*(pedals here too)

Postby **Peanut** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:22 pm

Do you take requests?

Postby **Furen** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:23 pm

Nice, I liked a few of those, some of the songs themselves, I don't like, but over all, great playing, I can't play, so it's not likely as great a compliment from another piano player.

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 4:56 pm

Peanut, it depends. We have a huge list of songs, and I can find some sheet music online. However, I only print it out if I don't have to pay for it. Also, I have to have a window to practice with first before I feel comfortable performing the piece.
Oh, and starting with the next session, expect some Christmas music!

Postby **Davidizer13** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 8:11 pm

rocklobster (post: 1600047) wrote:I actually have been using the pedals on some of the next pieces. My feeling is that I should only use them for pieces that call for it.

Yeah you don't know how to use the pedals, do you. You have to lift up at some point, otherwise all your notes will blend into a giant ugly mash of sound. All you gotta do is lift when you change keys or between measures, and it'll clear out the sound so you can get to the next part.

But all that is moot if you're playing really slowly and the sound has time to clear out because you're taking a long time between notes trying to figure out what's coming up next in the song because you haven't practiced enough to figure out where your hands are going to be, which is what you're doing.

I wanna hear you do J. S. Bach's Little Fugue. I was going to suggest the Precipitato movement from Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 7, but I couldn't find the sheet music for free anywhere.

Postby **armeck** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 8:16 pm

Davidizer13 (post: 1600229) wrote:Yeah you don't know how to use the pedals, do you. You have to lift up at some point, otherwise all your notes will blend into a giant ugly mash of sound. All you gotta do is lift when you change keys or between measures, and it'll clear out the sound so you can get to the next part.

But all that is moot if you're playing really slowly and the sound has time to clear out because you're taking a long time between notes trying to figure out what's coming up next in the song because you haven't practiced enough to figure out where your hands are going to be, which is what you're doing.

It probably isn't my place to say anything. but there is a line between constructive criticism and being downright rude.

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:58 am

OK, Davidizer one last defense, and I'm not listening to you anymore: "Adrift" and "Lotus Blossom" were New Age pieces and required me to hold the pedals for several measures. I was following the symbols correctly.

Postby **TheMewster** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:59 pm

I wish I could watch these, but I lost my headphones.

Postby **Davidizer13** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:04 pm

rocklobster (post: 1600263) wrote:OK, Davidizer one last defense, and I'm not listening to you anymore: "Adrift" and "Lotus Blossom" were New Age pieces and required me to hold the pedals for several measures. I was following the symbols correctly.

Ahh, you're going off pedal markings, gotcha. I play a lot of pieces where it's implied that you'll be working the pedal the whole time, and so they don't do any markup for it. Honestly, I almost forgot what the things looked like. Sorry 'bout that!

Still, though, your flow is way off. You gotta go seamlessly between notes, you can't spend that much time hanging between every one getting your hands in place - this issue's way bigger than the pedal thing. If you can get that down, you'll be golden!

my last fm profile! · Postby **rocklobster** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:19 pm

now that's much nicer.
I knew if I replied to your criticism nicely, you'd be nice again.
But seriously, thanks for your help.

Postby **rocklobster** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:41 pm

Time for some Christmas music:
"Little Drummer Boy"
"Silent Moon"
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YquBhvVyNrA]"What Child is This?"

Postby **SilverToast** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:08 pm

You play the piano really well! You seem to be getting better from when you first uploaded your videos. I guess you are getting used to recording. I notice you play the pieces you sing especially well with nice flow. You have a decent voice too.